Saturday, March 01, 2008

The Path To Philly Beer Week 2008 - A Profile of Triumph Brewing Company




Triumph as always been one of those places for me that was just a little too far. Princeton was someplace I went in the 90s with my buddies on a night out and I discovered Triumph for the first time. Then, later with Patty to Triumph's New Hope location while shopping and strolling around the town. Up until recently, I've probably drunk more of their beer when they've shown up at festivals like the Brewer's Plate event and others in the Philly area. Their Bengal Gold IPA, Pilsner, and Kellerbier varieties were always highly sought after and they pair especially well with food. Now with their arrival to Philly, I've been to Triumph more in the past year then I've been combined over their first 12 years in business.

Their lager light is shining brighter than ever since they arrived in Philadelphia. They've kept the utilitarian/industrial interior design (don't ask me, I'm not a designer) similar to the New Hope location and are attracting quite the crowds. The times I've been there I seem to observe that it's quite the trendy crowd (duh, you say? it's Old City!) enjoying the well-made beers. Though, you can still usually spot the occasional "usual beer geek suspects" hunkered down at the bar. As the craft beer demographic changes and grows (or grows and changes...is there a difference in the emphasis?), this is likely a good thing and I'm happy to see Triumph be a part of it in Philadelphia proper. Especially so, considering that they are putting out flavorful and well-made lager style beers, something that could take the trendy crowd a bit by surprise.

As you ready yourself for Philly Beer Week 2008, study up on some background notes on Triumph Brewing Company and consider yourself lucky to be part of such a vibrant and rich beer region that PBW 2008 will celebrate.


Name: Triumph Brewing Company
Location: 117 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Phone: 215-625-0855


People
Adam Rechnitz (Owner)
Jay Misson (Director of Brewing Operations)
Patrick Jones (Philadelphia head brewer)
Tom Stevenson (Princeton head brewer)
Brendan Anderson (New Hope head brewer)


Major Brands
Bengal Gold IPA; Honey Wheat; Amber Ale; German Pilsner, along with over 70 other styles brewed in the past


Awards
Bengal Gold IPA

Bronze; GABF 2006

Dunkel Lager

Silver; GABF 2005

Honey Wheat

Gold; GABF 2005

Kellerbier

Gold; GABF 2004

Pilsner, German

Bronze; GABF 2005

Pilsner, Czech

Silver; GABF 2005

Rauchbier

Silver; GABF 2004


Distribution
Draft only at the brewpub locations


Production
Roughly 2,800 bbls/year (combined production for all 3 locations in 2007)


History & Tidbits
  • First location opened in Princeton in 1995 at the edge of Princeton University

  • Triumph led the way in New Jersey, lobbying the State for brewpub licensing that had not previously existed

  • Second location opened in 2003 across the river in popular New Hope, PA

  • Triumph responded to years of cries in Philadelphia for a new brewpub by opening the Old City location in 2007



  • Major Yearly Events
  • Monthly tapping of special firkins (first Thursdays at Philly location)



  • Where to Find Triumph During Philly Beer Week
  • Their Rauch Bock will be highlighted at Joe Sixpack's event on the 7th
  • Will host Ultimate Beer Trivia on the 10th with the women’s beer club In Pursuit of Ale and Johnny Goodtimes

  • Playing host to former Schmidt’s Brewmaster Jack Ehmann & beer historian Rich Wagner on the 11th

  • Lew Bryson brings his Lager Gala to Triumph on the 13th

  • Will co-host Real Ale Festival with Yards Brewing on Sunday the 16th featuring 30 casks from 25 different breweries

  • Also look for Triumph at Joe Sixpack’s Philly Favorites at the Market Place in East Falls on March 7th, The Brewer’s Plate on March 9th, and the Michael Jackson Tribute at the U of Penn on March 15th

  • 1 comment:

    Eli said...

    I LOVE TRIUMPH.